WHISTLER’S WORLD SKI & SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL GOES BIG IN 2019

WHISTLER, B.C., November 27, 2018 – The winter call to the mountains has sounded. Snow-worshipers have been eagerly listening, and they’re now free to answer. With chairs spinning at Whistler Blackcomb, North America’s largest ski resort, the season-long quest to summit peaks, charge endless vert, uncover powder stashes, and send it from dawn to dusk, and beyond, has begun.

It’s the beginning of a wave of momentum that’ll reach its apex in April, erupting in one final blaze of glory and energy, known as the World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF), the après of the season.

April 10-14, 2019, WSSF returns for its 24th year, bringing together the community and visitors from around the world to Whistler, B.C. for five days of elevated action.

What’s on the horizon for North America’s largest festival of snow sports, music, arts, and mountain culture?

For 2019, Big Air is going even bigger. Prize money for the ski and snowboard events will balloon to an unprecedented minimum $100,000USD ($50K per event), a move that’s expected to bring in the heavy hitters and that’s in line with the growth of these disciplines within the snow sports arena. Snowboard Big Air was added to the Olympic roster at the PyeongChang Winter Games for the first time in 2018, while Ski Big Air will be added for Beijing 2022.

Big Air competitions are two of the WSSF’s marquee events. Every year, thousands of fans descend on Skiers Plaza in Whistler Village to watch top talent launch themselves off a massive jump at the base of Whistler Mountain, performing tricks mid-air, earning a score based on difficulty, execution, landing, and amplitude. Former contestants include a veritable who’s who of Olympians and X-Games all-stars, including Maxence Parrot, Gus Kenworthy, Sage Kotsenburg, Henrik Harlaut, Sebastien Toutant, and Yuki Tsubota.

As in 2018, both Ski and Snowboard contests will be broadcast live on WSSF.com.

Music will continue to feature prominently, with the WSSF Outdoor Concert Series bringing free, all-ages music showcases to the streets of Whistler Village, while the Kokanee Freeride Club Series will stage free shows at bars and clubs around town, taking Whistler’s famed après scene and cranking it to full blast. Full music lineup will be announced in the new year.

The World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) is North America’s largest festival of snow sports, music, arts and mountain culture, April 10-14, 2019. Get fired up for speed, progression and excitement as the steepest ski race in the world, the finals of the Monster Energy Boarderstyle World Championships and the Ski and Snowboard Big Air competitions launch from Whistler during WSSF. Soak in the best of mountain culture at art, film, photography, and speaker events. Get loud alongside musicians and DJs at the WSSF Outdoor Concert Series. Then keep the party going through elevated après sessions at Whistler’s renowned restaurants and bars.

This is the après of your season.Soak it in. Go all out. Make it count.WSSF.com